Consultant will review California U's football program after West Chester man's beating

Debra ErdleyOf Trib Total Media

California University of Pennsylvania Wednesday morning finalized a $60,000 contract with The Compliance Group of Lenexa, Kan., to conduct an external review of the school's football program.

Interim University President Geraldine Jones called for a top-to-bottom review of the program last month, following an incident in which six football players were charged with severely beating a West Chester man outside a restaurant several blocks from campus.

The players, all of whom are awaiting trial on aggravated assault and related charges, were suspended from the university and the football program. Jones also canceled a game scheduled for the following Saturday.

Cal's contract calls for The Compliance Group, which has conducted extensive work related to intercollegiate athletics, to review its football program with regard to:

∙ Supervision/oversight within the program, the athletics department, and the university

. Communication of appropriate values within the program, the athletics department, and the university

. Relationships between the football office, athletics department and campus personnel

. The team's connection to the overall campus community

. Access to and availability of academic and student support resources for student-athletes in the football program

. Existence and utilization of certain policies and processes that relate to the football program

"I welcome the knowledge and experience The Compliance Group will bring to the review of our football program. Cal U will cooperate fully with TCG's work and make every effort to expedite the process. I look forward to receiving the group's recommendations," Jones said in a statement announcing the review.

A Cal U spokesman said The Compliance Group will recommend any necessary changes to assure that it reflects the university's core values of integrity, civility and responsibility.

"We intend to have (the review) start immediately," said Cal U spokeswoman Christine Kindl. "We have a very short window here for their work on campus. This is the last week of classes and final exams are next week, so there is some urgency."